‘Do you fully realize it? You told me at first that there was a complete absence of motive among you. Would you still say so? Look what has come out. Captain Grace was Mrs Rubrick’s heir. That circumstance, which suggests the most common of all motives, has of course always been recognized by the police and must have occurred to all of you. You, Losse, advanced a theory that you yourself in a condition of amnesia attacked Mrs Rubrick and killed her. What’s more, as you developed this theme you also revealed a motive, Mrs Rubrick’s opposition to your engagement to Miss Harme. Now, under this same process of self-revelation, Miss Lynne must also be said to have a motive. Most courageously she has told us that she had formed a deep attachment for the murdered woman’s husband and you, Losse, say that this attachment obviously was returned. The second most common motive appears in both your case and hers. You have said, bravely, that none of you has anything to fear from this discussion. Are you sure you have the right to make this statement? You are using this room as a sort of confessional, but I am bound by no priestly rule. What you tell me, I shall consider from the practical point of view and may afterwards use in the report I send to your police. I should neglect my duty if, before she goes any further, I didn’t remind Miss Lynne of all the circumstances.’ Alleyn paused and rubbed his nose. ‘That all sounds pompous,’ he said. ‘But there it is. The whole thing’s a departure from the usual procedure. I doubt if any collection of possible suspects has ever before decided to have what Miss Harme has aptly described as a verbal striptease before an investigating officer.’ He looked at Terence. ‘Well, now, Miss Lynne,’ he said, ‘if you don’t want to go on—’

‘It’s not because I’m afraid,’ she said. ‘I didn’t do it and any attempt to prove I did would fail. I suppose I ought to be afraid but I’m not. I don’t feel in the least anxious for myself.’

‘Very well. Losse has suggested that there is some significance in the change during the last week of Mrs Rubrick’s life in her manner towards her husband. He has suggested that you can explain this change. Is he right?’

She did not answer. Slowly and, as it seemed, reluctantly, she raised her eyes and looked at the portrait of Florence Rubrick.

‘Terry!’ said Ursula suddenly, ‘did she know? Did she find out?’

Fabian gave a sharp ejaculation and Terence turned, not upon Ursula but upon him.

‘You idiot, Fabian,’ she said. ‘You unutterable fool.’

The fire had burnt low, and the room was colder and stale with tobacco smoke.